thedarkroome stands up as Bald Is Beautiful.org correspondent, Sharon Blynn, reports from STAND UP 2 CANCER simulcast! With a full Slideshow of the day at the end of this piece!
(baldisbeautiful.org)
It’s remarkable that “cancer” — a word associated with destruction and loss, devastation, death — is such a powerful, galvanizing force of abundance and generosity, positivity, Life! And there’s something invigorating about being amidst a crowd of purpose-filled people that have stepped off the treadmill of their regular day-to-day lives, to, well … Stand Up 2 Cancer!
So when, at the end of July, I got the save-the-date email about the upcoming SU2C telecast, I just had to find a way to attend! Well, within two weeks, through a series of emails and a friend’s referral to someone in New York who worked with the people there that worked for the organization in Los Angeles that owned the dog that bit the cat that ate the mouse that ate the cheese … I got an invite in the mail. “I’m in!” I shouted in my apartment … all by myself.
So when, at the end of July, I got the save-the-date email about the upcoming SU2C telecast, I just had to find a way to attend! Well, within two weeks, through a series of emails and a friend’s referral to someone in New York who worked with the people there that worked for the organization in Los Angeles that owned the dog that bit the cat that ate the mouse that ate the cheese … I got an invite in the mail. “I’m in!” I shouted in my apartment … all by myself.
(baldisbeautiful.org)
To my joyful surprise, I could also bring a guest. I asked a friend and fellow cancer survivor whom I hadn’t seen a long while if she was interested. As it turned out, Christine (5 years breast cancer-free this year!) had watched the first two telecasts at home and always wanted to attend! Perfecto! And so the magical unfoldment of the event begins!
This year’s telecast was held at the historic Shrine Auditorium, in the heart of the USC campus. It’s the beginning of the semester, so the air is filled with a palpable stew of youthful excitement, adventure, aspiration, freedom, anticipation of hard work and serious play, diving head-first into the Unknown. Fitting energies to envelope this venue and event.
This year’s telecast was held at the historic Shrine Auditorium, in the heart of the USC campus. It’s the beginning of the semester, so the air is filled with a palpable stew of youthful excitement, adventure, aspiration, freedom, anticipation of hard work and serious play, diving head-first into the Unknown. Fitting energies to envelope this venue and event.
WORLD FAMOUS SHRINE AUDITORIUM (baldisbeautiful.org)
The SU2C presence was everywhere, not in an overly solicitous way. Volunteer angels buzzed around in their white SU2C tees, eager to answer questions or simply offer a smile and a hug. There were tables set up for taking donations, and merchandise racks with groovy t-shirts and tank tops, cute iPhone cases, and other goodies, all emblazoned with the various SU2C logos.
Since it’s a live telecast, we had to be in our seats at precisely 4:30, so we headed into the auditorium with about 12 minutes to spare. We were so excited to be ushered all the way down to the 10th row! I wanted to snap some pics at the stage — it was way too close to resist — so I wandered over and snapped a few as quickly and inconspicuously as possible. On my way back to our seats, I helped a guy take a photo of him with his buddies in the front row. There were two empty seats next to him (hmmmm…). I inquired, we chatted, and they offered their empty seats to us. I waved Christine over and there we were, right up front! The magic of the evening continues!
Since it’s a live telecast, we had to be in our seats at precisely 4:30, so we headed into the auditorium with about 12 minutes to spare. We were so excited to be ushered all the way down to the 10th row! I wanted to snap some pics at the stage — it was way too close to resist — so I wandered over and snapped a few as quickly and inconspicuously as possible. On my way back to our seats, I helped a guy take a photo of him with his buddies in the front row. There were two empty seats next to him (hmmmm…). I inquired, we chatted, and they offered their empty seats to us. I waved Christine over and there we were, right up front! The magic of the evening continues!
(ABC/Brown)
The lights blink and a booming voice fills the room: “Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. We will begin the show in 10 minutes. Remember: there is no flash photography allowed and please turn off your cell phones.” Oh goodie! I can take more pictures during the show! The house lights fade down and the spotlights illuminate a line of people on stage. We are introduced to the event co-producers and then the founders of the Stand Up 2 Cancer movement — minus, only in body, one of their fearless leaders/co-founders, renowned movie producer Laura Ziskin, who succumbed to breast cancer last year. It was so inspiring, as a survivor and cancer awareness advocate, to see this band of bad-ass women manifesting this enormous vision. The image of Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor in Stir Crazy popped into my head, “Yeah, that’s right! We bad! We bad!”
(ABC/Brown)
Lights down. “20 seconds!” the disembodied voice bellowed. I felt like we were waiting to be launched into the stars in a rocket! 5-4-3-2-1 … The floating screen in the middle of the stage fades up to a tape of Matt Damon. He talks about his dad, a cancer survivor. Then he turns to his right (“Cancer even picked up fight with this guy!”), and the camera pans to Michael Douglas, throat cancer survivor. “Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees. It brought me to my feet!” In those words is the spirit of all cancer warriors!
(ABC/Craig Sjodin)
Lights up to the effervescent Julia Roberts, who succinctly lays out the reason we are here: From all walks of life, all ages, all races, men, women, children … cancer is “merciless and indiscriminant,” and we are here to raise money to put together “dream teams” to fight different cancers, to bring an end to this monstrous disease. We are united … to Stand Up 2 Cancer.
The production seamlessly wove celebrity presenters with lovingly-produced video vignettes of passionate doctors talking about their work and new discoveries, and cancer warriors sharing their touching and inspiring stories — some of whom were in the audience and we all got to literally stand up and cheer for them!
The production seamlessly wove celebrity presenters with lovingly-produced video vignettes of passionate doctors talking about their work and new discoveries, and cancer warriors sharing their touching and inspiring stories — some of whom were in the audience and we all got to literally stand up and cheer for them!
Justin Miller and I (baldisbeautiful.org)
My favorite segment of the entire night came from Justin Miller, a 9-year-old boy diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, now a 5-time survivor (let’s keep it that way!). He loves legos and finds that when he focuses on them, he can relax and not think about anything else. “I don’t like to think about me passing away…but if I do, I’m taking my legos with me!” He’s fearless, something he attributes to, “one: I’m a ninja; two: ninjas aren’t afraid of anything, and three: that’s pretty much it.” Bold innocence and stark Truth … from the mouths of babes!
Alicia Keys(ABC)
The hour was also punctuated by moving musical performances of new, SU2C-inspired songs by Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw, as well as a very special taped performance from across the globe by Coldplay, who, with the SU2C logo shining on each side of their concert stage in Paris, France, dedicated their song “Paradise” to the cancer warriors and everyone involved in the movement to find a cure.
Surprise! Blynn is projected on stage during Tim McGraw performance.
It ended oddly unceremoniously (that’s live television, I guess!). Just lights up as they played a montage of video bytes from each presenters’ earlier appearance (to run during the credits for the folks watching on TV or online).
Christine and I made our way to the after-party set up across the driveway from the auditorium. We didn’t have passes, but my friend Kim did and our new front-row buddies did, so we were optimistic that we would somehow find our way in. As it turned out, the beautiful karma that began our night was still flowing and we got two coveted wristbands!
With the façade of the Shrine drenched in dusk’s amber light as the backdrop, it was a lovely garden party atmosphere, with groovy gourmet finger food, drinks, and a DJ pumping out pleasant pop grooves. We sipped and supped and socialized, saw people we knew, and made new acquaintances along the way. The highlight of my evening (aside from meeting Gabrielle Douglas!! And her mom!!) was getting to meet Justin, the Ninja-Boxing-Legos-boy from the video! We hugged, chatted, high-fived three times, and he went immediately back to punching couch cushions and wrestling with his buddy. Yep.
Overall, the program was an efficient, effective, and moving fundraising and awareness event. With a good balance of the live and taped components, celebrity appeal, and the real-life heroes in the doctors, scientists, patients, survivors, and warriors who have passed away, for whom this night was happening all for them.
In our lives – personal and professional, at work or at play — we are going to be called to our edge, maybe even pushed beyond it. And we will make a choice. To lay down or stand up, for ourselves or for someone else. To make the world better. To reach toward our infinite and highest potential. I know what I’m gonna do. How about you? Will you stand up?
For more information about Stand Up 2 Cancer, go to http://su2c.standup2cancer.org/ .
Overall, the program was an efficient, effective, and moving fundraising and awareness event. With a good balance of the live and taped components, celebrity appeal, and the real-life heroes in the doctors, scientists, patients, survivors, and warriors who have passed away, for whom this night was happening all for them.
In our lives – personal and professional, at work or at play — we are going to be called to our edge, maybe even pushed beyond it. And we will make a choice. To lay down or stand up, for ourselves or for someone else. To make the world better. To reach toward our infinite and highest potential. I know what I’m gonna do. How about you? Will you stand up?
For more information about Stand Up 2 Cancer, go to http://su2c.standup2cancer.org/ .
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